1961 AGP at Mallala

1961 saw the Australian Grand Prix held at Mallala - only its second meeting ever. At the SCC Round 4 on November 20/21 we are planning to honour the 50th anniversary of this event. What we need help with is the current location of the cars that competed. So who better to ask to help out Joan and I, as well as the HRR of SA.
Many thanks for your anticipated help, and a promised glass of something refreshing such as an Australian owned Coopers beer, a good Clare Valley riesling or a rich red from McLaren Vale (to be collected at Mallala at this event or next Easter!! )

Sorry, the others I don't know the whereabouts of, not many left in Australia !

Jones Cooper remains (chassis only with maybe a few body panels) now believed to have been sold from Tasmania to overseas in last few years.Stillwell Cooper went to Patterson then O'Sullivan, largely destroyed in crash, some bits probably exist in the various O'Sullivan / Sangster / Gard cars from WA as per other TNF threads.

The Ricardian has a new guardian here in SA,
The Hurd Zephyr combo is still intact,
I spoke recently to the owner of the BBM so now must work on twisting his arm to at least bring the car out
Tillett TC I am sure that resides here

Did Helene Bittner enter the GP, or was she entered at the race meeting?
Our Simca, known as the Tudor Special (I think - bother Dad for having so much info in his head!) was entered either in a GP or a GP event - we thought this one but maybe not

Anne, I think Noel Hurd still has the Zephyr, it was at the Elfin anniversary a couple of years back with Noel.
The Repco Riccardian was at Mallala a couple of years back, I dont know who owns it. I took a pic of it.
And quite a few of the drivers are still around and would probably consider a request to be there.A good third of those blokes are still around and active. Though really a race or races of period cars would be in order. Or at least a 'spirited demonstration'

There has been numerous articles on the car over the years dating back to the early 60s. A short summary:Sometime in the 1950's BBM born, build by Bob Lindsay (if anyone knows anything about this man I would love to hear from you). Dodge 3-speed box, Holden Grey Motor. It was said Tim Hocking drove the car - speaking to him recently he says otherwise, but offered to have a drive now. He is a colourful man.Late 50s BBM purchased by Dud Dansie. Jag. box fitted and Holden Grey with Dunstan Rotary Valve Head with GM 271 blower. Southcotts Pty Ltd made 30 DRV heads in the late 50s.Dansie races and continues to develop the car through to the early 60s during which, IRS added (Rilstone's Zephyr Special was borrowed for a weekend as a guide), Preo box added, DRV removed, body mods made. So at some point this monster ran a DRV blown with a GM-271 coupled to a Preo box ending with a home-made IRS.History from the time when sold by Danise to when purchased by Jim Doig not know.Jim raced BBM through the late 60s.Last race action for BBM in the early 70s at AIR.BBM twiddles her thumbs for many years.BBM is currently nearing the end of a very long stop-start restoration process.While this car may not have been what Ray terms a true contender it certainly captures the amazing spirit of Australian men who could not afford a true contender and who just grabbed what was around and used it, down to a door hinge as an accelerator pedal.

The two Austins entered were Trevor Ellis listed as an Austin 8 special, which later became the Tudor (Accessories?) Special with a Simca engine, and Elfin body parts and resides with the Shearer family.
The second Austin of Doug Trengrove is causing us some difficulty as we are not sure if it was an A7 special, the Cicada or the Ausford. Any suggestions gratefully accepted.

2 other problematic cars which did not start, but entered were the John Lugg ERJ 500 and Drue Trottman Vincent 1000

There is also a DNS for Garrie Cooper in an Elfin FJ, but according to the Elfin book the only 2 built in 61 were those of Harrison/Brown and Ferguson, so we are wondering what happened with that story.

I have also been given a copy of the times, lap charts etc for the AGP, along with times for the other events of the day. Please let me know if you would like the info uploaded as I am currently without scanning facilities and I am not too sure of the quality even if I did scan it

Dick, how could you say I would bribe you to come to Easter Mallala? Just offering good old fashioned SA hospitality

The two Austins entered were Trevor Ellis listed as an Austin 8 special, which later became the Tudor (Accessories?) Special with a Simca engine, and Elfin body parts and resides with the Shearer family.The second Austin of Doug Trengrove is causing us some difficulty as we are not sure if it was an A7 special, the Cicada or the Ausford. Any suggestions gratefully accepted.

2 other problematic cars which did not start, but entered were the John Lugg ERJ 500 and Drue Trottman Vincent 1000

There is also a DNS for Garrie Cooper in an Elfin FJ, but according to the Elfin book the only 2 built in 61 were those of Harrison/Brown and Ferguson, so we are wondering what happened with that story.

I have also been given a copy of the times, lap charts etc for the AGP, along with times for the other events of the day. Please let me know if you would like the info uploaded as I am currently without scanning facilities and I am not too sure of the quality even if I did scan it

Dick, how could you say I would bribe you to come to Easter Mallala? Just offering good old fashioned SA hospitality

Bruce Went had the Ausford for a long time[maybe still has?] and may well know the history, as he was very good friends with Garrie. Doug Trengove also built at one stage a Austin 7 based Sports Car special with a A series in it though I feel that was a later car.Trevor Ellis Wireworks was literally across the road from Elfin.

Thank you, but unfortunately Doug built a number of Austin/BMC based specials and many are a case of Grandpa's axe so becoming very difficult to track down
We are still working on it. We have 5 days left